a film that made me cry because of extreme realism. josie's (vilma santos) whole family and friends sat down almost at the same time during her homecoming party to listen to stories about hong kong.

when my mother returned home from a couple years in chicago, she and two of the other female relatives her age in quezon city at that time - my aunts - sat down almost at the same time with her on the family couch. "ay, daw mabuang ka guid," were the first words she said.

it made me cry because my mother also yelled at me when first she returned from the homeland. i went through high school without her. she also had to leave to provide for us. she came back for the second time to bury my dad and take us away. many friends and family were there for us while she was away, and to welcome her back, but in the ensuing days after the parties, it was just us and our hurt. hurt is uncontainable no matter the size of the house and the largeness of its windows.

it made me cry because the flying plane bound for abroad erased faces of loved ones, and bore them far away, often beyond tenuous reach. it made me realize to look for things i would have to do to keep my future family from knowing separation.